Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrive for a news conference in Jerusalem. Reuters
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrive for a news conference in Jerusalem. Reuters
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrive for a news conference in Jerusalem. Reuters
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrive for a news conference in Jerusalem. Reuters

Antony Blinken arrives in Cairo on regional tour to shore up ceasefire


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  • Arabic

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet leaders in Cairo and Amman today as part of his tour of the Middle East to consolidate last week's ceasefire that ended a war between Israel and Hamas.

In Cairo, Mr Blinken is to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

He is also expected to meet King Abdullah II in Amman later this afternoon.

Mr Blinken began his visit to the region in Israel, where he held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned Hamas against any resumption of hostilities.

The US willd throw its weight behind a rally of diplomatic support for the Palestinian people and the administration was seeking $75 million in development and economic aid, Mr Blinken said. The US will also advance the process of reopening its Jerusalem consulate that had served as its diplomatic channel to the Palestinians, he said.

The 11-day war between Israel and Hamas left at least 248 dead in Gaza – mostly civilians including at least 66 children – and 12 dead in Israel, including two children. The fourth conflict since 2006 caused widespread destruction in the impoverished coastal territory.

While the truce that came into effect on Friday has so far held, it does not address any of the underlying issues in the conflict, something Mr Blinken acknowledged after meeting with Mr Netanyahu.

Later, speaking alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday, Mr Blinken said that Washington would provide new aid to help rebuild Gaza. He reiterated that Washington intended to ensure that Hamas, which it regards as a terrorist organisation, did not benefit from the humanitarian aid.

"I say this as a father," Mr Blinken said. "No child, whether Israeli, Palestinian or American is a statistic. We know the human consequences when violence takes the upper hand and we are determined that that will not be the case."

Crowds of Palestinians protested against Mr Blinken's meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. Some demonstrators carried coffins to represent the children who died in the recent surge in violence between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.

Meanwhile, in an interview with The National, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said the international community needs to engage in concerted efforts to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process.

"I genuinely believe that providing humanitarian assistance will not be enough to prevent a new cycle of violence in Gaza,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is also in the region for talks with senior leaders after the Gaza ceasefire. Mr Raab will meet Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Mr Abbas in Ramallah during his one-day visit.

  • A boy rides his bicycle amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    A boy rides his bicycle amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • Life resumes amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    Life resumes amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • A Palestinian man tries to put his home back in order after Israeli air strikes on Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    A Palestinian man tries to put his home back in order after Israeli air strikes on Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • A Palestinian girl stands amid the rubble of her destroyed home in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    A Palestinian girl stands amid the rubble of her destroyed home in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • A Palestinian woman puts her house back in order after Israeli aerial raids over the past couple of weeks in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    A Palestinian woman puts her house back in order after Israeli aerial raids over the past couple of weeks in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • Life resumes amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    Life resumes amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • Palestinian children resume life amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
    Palestinian children resume life amid the rubble of destroyed homes in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Getty
  • Palestinians in Gaza city sit in a tent set up on top of the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli air strikes. Getty
    Palestinians in Gaza city sit in a tent set up on top of the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli air strikes. Getty
  • Palestinians sit in a tent that has been set up on top of the ruins of a building destroyed in recent Israeli air strikes, in Gaza city. AFP
    Palestinians sit in a tent that has been set up on top of the ruins of a building destroyed in recent Israeli air strikes, in Gaza city. AFP
  • A Palestinian child attends a rally in Gaza city amid the ruins of houses destroyed by Israeli strikes. AFP
    A Palestinian child attends a rally in Gaza city amid the ruins of houses destroyed by Israeli strikes. AFP
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

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NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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Company%20profile
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania ​​​​​​​
Verdict: 4 Stars

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

WISH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Buck%2C%20Fawn%20Veerasunthorn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ariana%20DeBose%2C%20Chris%20Pine%2C%20Alan%20Tudyk%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Australia World Cup squad

Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEmonovo%20(previously%20Marj3)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECairo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2016%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeducation%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ethree%20rounds%2C%20undisclosed%20amount%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
DUBAI WORLD CUP RACE CARD

6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m

8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m

10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

 

The National selections

6.30pm Well Of Wisdom

7.05pm Summrghand

7.40pm Laser Show

8.15pm Angel Alexander

8.50pm Benbatl

9.25pm Art Du Val

10pm: Beyond Reason

Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)

Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.

Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.

Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.

Get your priorities right.

And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.

PRISCILLA
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RACECARD

4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

Essentials

The flights

Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes. 
 

The stay

A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.